Attorney Robert Searfoss III is on trail for stealing $435,000 of his client’s funds. And his ex-wife testified that he may have been trying to fund a poker career with the money. The Bowling Green, Ohio native is charged with 14 felony counts, including money laundering, theft, and corrupt activity. According to the Sentinel-Times, Searfoss […]

Attorney Robert Searfoss III is on trail for stealing $435,000 of his client’s funds. And his ex-wife testified that he may have been trying to fund a poker career with the money.

According to the Sentinel-Times, Searfoss stole $435,000 from the trust of Eric Walker. Searfoss was the trustee for Walker while serving as his divorce attorney.

State prosecutors contend that Searfoss used the funds to buy a house in Perrysburg, pay down credit on his current Bowling Green home, cover child support, pay back taxes, and buy two vehicles.

Searfoss’ defense team argues that Walker lent him the money so that he could shield the funds from outside parties. Furthermore, Attorney Richard Kerger claims that Searfoss made the loan payments every time they were due.

Did Searfoss Use the Money to Become a Poker Pro?

Katherine, Searfoss’ ex-wife, took the witness stand and said that her former husband had been considering a new line of work. He was interested in becoming a poker player and went to Toledo’s Hollywood Casino between three and five times per week.

Searfoss was actually arrested while playing poker at the casino.

Katherine Searfoss added that the family’s finances fluctuated. But when it came time to buy a $250,000 house in Perrysburg, she trusted that the money was coming from his attorney job.

“From what I understood, he had a good stretch, had a lot of clients pay, and we could afford it,” said Katherine.

The couple sold the home to her parents in 2016, then used the $250k to pay down debts.

Searfoss Spent a Lot of Time at the Casino

Under cross examination by the defense, Katherine reiterated that her husband wasn’t “always happy being an attorney.” And she never saw his casino visits as a problem, although she said it did cause family scheduling conflicts.

Katherine also mentioned that Robert consulted with a local poker pro, but she didn’t think he would make it as a professional himself.